Poznan is one of Poland's oldest and most important cities, the birthplace of the Polish nation and a place where history and a youthful university energy coexist in a way that feels entirely natural. The Old Market Square, one of the largest in Europe, is ringed by colourful merchant houses and anchored by the Renaissance Town Hall, where every day at noon two mechanical goats butt heads from the clock tower. It is worth timing your visit for.
The city has a serious cultural side. Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), sitting on an island in the Warta River, is where Poland was baptised in 966 and where the country's first rulers are buried in Poznan Cathedral. The Imperial Castle, built for Kaiser Wilhelm II, is the youngest castle in Europe and now houses a cultural centre. The National Museum holds an excellent collection of Polish painting.
But Poznan is not a museum piece. Nearly 200,000 students keep the city's bars and restaurants lively, and the Stary Browar, a former brewery turned shopping and arts centre, is one of the best urban redevelopments in Central Europe. The food scene has come a long way too, with everything from traditional Polish milk bars to modern bistros.
Poznan also hosts the country's oldest and largest international trade fair, which has been running since 1921. If you are visiting during a major fair, book ahead.